California Chrome to Japan

Treve · Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:46 am

At first glance it seems to me he is getting a chance at much better mares than he did in the US in spite of Taylor Made and the former DAP support.
And by better mares I mean in pedigree primarily, but also record.

Ridan_Remembered · Mon Nov 02, 2020 6:13 pm

Treve wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 11:46 am At first glance it seems to me he is getting a chance at much better mares than he did in the US in spite of Taylor Made and the former DAP support.
And by better mares I mean in pedigree primarily, but also record.

Chrome is getting better mares in Japan than he got in Kentucky. For myself, I sort of do a rough A, B, C grade for mares. Chrome got no elite mares in Kentucky. His books were mostly B and C grade in my opinion. Despite this, comparing his first crop results against the sires he went to stud with in 2017 in North America, Chrome has 9 winners so far, tying him for #9 on the list of Leading First Crop Sires by number of winners. He is #11 by progeny earnings. One of his fillies came in third in a G1 race, so he has his first graded stakes performer. An excellent 65% of his starters have finished in the money. What Chrome is missing so far is stakes winners.

His get seem to be versatile, with winners on dirt, turf, all-weather and in the slop. Most of them also seem to want a distance of ground. So there certainly is reason to hope that with better mares, Chrome can succeed in Japan.

CorridorZ75 · Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:16 pm

What I do love in him being bred in America, Chile, and now Japan are the great variety of mares he has covered. It will make it interesting to see what works. I do hope they send a few of the Le Havre mares they have in Japan to him. I just think breeding him back to another line of Nasrullah will work. We will see what he does with the Uncle Mo mares he bred in his last couple of years in Kentucky. Interesting to see Wildcat Lily follow him to Japan. She is the dam of his highest rated progeny so far, California Lily.

He had some top mares in US- Champagne Royal, Laffina has ended up a good one with her first being Bast, Cat's Fair, Downside Scenario (dam of Mustaabeq). He also got several G1-producers in Chile, including the dam of Robert Bruce. It is a bit frustrating that alot of the progeny from the better mares in his first crop haven't started yet.

Ridan_Remembered · Tue Nov 03, 2020 7:38 am

CorridorZ75 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:16 pm It is a bit frustrating that a lot of the progeny from the better mares in his first crop haven't started yet.

Agreed, plus all of Chrome's offspring who have raced so far have only run in maiden races with the exception of one filly. So even though it's true that he has no stakes winners yet, it's also true that he's only had one opportunity, and that filly finished 3rd in a G1. Her name is Cilla.

KatieK101 · Tue Nov 03, 2020 5:52 pm

Thanks so much for not only digging through and sharing Chrome's studbook, but for also sharing their accomplishments; it's much appreciated since many of us aren't familiar with Japanese-based broodmares

I agree with the majority. He is getting much better mares in Japan. Somebody else said it first, but it's exciting that he's bred mares in the US, Chile, and Japan. I'm interested to see how they all fare, and which crops excel!

tachyon · Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:50 pm

California Chrome’s stud fee for 2021 remains unchanged at JPY 4,000,000 (about USD 38.5k).
He has already been fully booked!

Diver52 · Thu Nov 26, 2020 1:32 am

tachyon wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:50 pm California Chrome’s stud fee for 2021 remains unchanged at JPY 4,000,000 (about USD 38.5k).
He has already been fully booked!

I hope he is successful. His sire line is strong and he was a great combo of speed, stamina, and versatility. I understand why U.S. breeders gave up on him but he could do well where he is better supported and I am rooting for him.

BaroqueAgain1 · Thu Nov 26, 2020 2:28 am

"...he was a great combo of speed, stamina, and versatility."

Yes, but what I admired most about him was his courage.
He finished a determined, grit-your-teeth 4th in the Belmont, even with a big chunk of one heel torn off.
He won the 2016 Dubai World Cup in powerful fashion with his girth down past his loins and his jock unbalanced in the irons. He pulled away from that field (a pretty good one) when he should have been bucking like a PBR bull.
Such a cool horse.

CorridorZ75 · Thu Nov 26, 2020 3:49 pm

I love many things about him, but close to the top ( second only to his obvious common sense approach to life) is that he so apparently enjoyed being a racehorse. I am not even sure it was because of ravenous competitive fire ( like say a Monomoy Girl); he was just out there traveling the world and having fun.

tachyon · Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:16 am

-- videos: California Chrome in the Snow

https://twitter.com/i/status/1348175556420935681
https://twitter.com/i/status/1348177930245967872
@pakapakakobo

also, Shanghai Bobby(USA), Grand Prix Boss(JPN) and Roger Barows(JPN) in the Snow

https://twitter.com/i/status/1348179493249159169
@pakapakakobo

BaroqueAgain1 · Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:26 pm

'Chrome isn't exactly cavorting in that snow, is he?

That Southern Cali boy looks like he's waiting to be put back inside his warm stall.

HB1994 · Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:36 pm

BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:26 pm 'Chrome isn't exactly cavorting in that snow, is he?
That Southern Cali boy looks like he's waiting to be put back inside his warm stall.

Can’t say I blame him.

Diver52 · Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:13 pm

HB1994 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:36 pm
BaroqueAgain1 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:26 pm 'Chrome isn't exactly cavorting in that snow, is he?
That Southern Cali boy looks like he's waiting to be put back inside his warm stall.
Can’t say I blame him.

I think his hooves were frozen to the ground.

tachyon · Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:44 pm

2021 Stallion Parade at Arrow Stud will be broadcasted live on Youtube link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AaohWI ... ture=share

It will start
10:00 a.m. Feb 10th 2021 (Japan time)
20:00 p.m. Feb 9th 2021 (EST)
17:00 p.m. Feb 9th 2021 (PST)

Ridan_Remembered · Tue Feb 09, 2021 7:51 am

Tachyon, thank you for posting these links.

tachyon · Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:27 am

You are welcome!
I couldn't watch the parade live today.
But here is a video.

California Chrome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1225&v= ... e=youtu.be

Ridan_Remembered · Wed Feb 10, 2021 8:47 am

Thanks Tachyon. Chrome looks really good. As always, he seems to enjoy the crowd. Didn't need the chain in his mouth so his handler took it out. When Chrome walked, he tended to look at the people. Also, by coincidence, Chrome's first Japanese foal was born the same day.

Mylute · Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:13 am

I still find it weird that he's in Japan lol

tachyon · Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:44 pm

-- 2021 stallion parade video (umaichi.com version) at Arrow Stud

California Chrome(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMh6elr51Vg

Lani(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaP6KcYmsxE

Shanghai Bobby(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kyy3YHBR-k

Sinister Minister(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Agh6DvQoco

Battle plan(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4oN44Jyh3Q

All Arrow Stud stallions (stallions' names are subtitled in English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9wtIAGPJso

Flanders · Wed Feb 10, 2021 9:15 pm

tachyon wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:44 pm -- 2021 stallion parade video (umaichi.com version) at Arrow Stud

California Chrome(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMh6elr51Vg

Lani(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaP6KcYmsxE

Shanghai Bobby(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kyy3YHBR-k

Sinister Minister(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Agh6DvQoco

Battle plan(USA)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4oN44Jyh3Q

All Arrow Stud stallions (stallions' names are subtitled in English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9wtIAGPJso

The stallions in Japan look amazing compared to their US counterparts, who almost all look like pregnant broodmares. I just compared Battle Plan and Blame at the same part of their walking videos(since they are the same age and raced against each other) and the difference is shocking.